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Previous: Broken speed limit | Main | Next: Xbox message
March 24, 2006 12:03 AM
Broken: USB storage watch
Roman Frenkel points out:
I know there are tons of gadgets out there and the concept of having USB storage on your watch isn't bad.
But if you have to carry around the wire in the picture with you at all times, (or even a retractable usb cord) to upload or download data - what's the point? - especially considering the current miniscule size of usb drives these days.
How does unplugging the cable solve the problem of having to carry around the cable? Always make sure your brain is engaged before ending a post with 'duh!'
Yeah but not that many machines use Bluetooth, especially most crappy computers like in libraries that you would use for research or something
The product has a "gee whiz" value to it, but from an actual usability standpoint, having to remember to bring a USB cable with you isn't very practical.
Or, ahem, you could simply have a spare USB cable at work, or wherever you tend to share data. (Like I do for my portable hard drive).
Just a thought.
The brokenness is not about the cable being attached to your wrist or not, it's about the inconvenience of having a jump-drive-in-a-watch that needs a cable AT ALL. Jump drives are no bigger than the watch AND they have a built-in USB port, unlike the watch.
This is "form at the expense of function". (Which, for gee-whiz lovers, is OK.)
I had a boyfriend 6 years ago that had a Timex (I think)that you just had to hold the watch in front of the computer and it would load names, phone numbers, appts, and other stuff directly to the watch. With this watch being not in stock, I think it must be just really old.
Yeah, I don't think the people who say "you can remove the cable" are quite clear on the concept. If you're going to carry around the cable anyway, you might as well carry around a regular USB key, which would actually be less bulky than the cable!
And with all due respect to karen (who proposed having a spare cable on each machine you use), if you only use the drive a small number of machines, do you really need to have it strapped to your wrist all the time?
There are watches on the market with USB storage that have an integrated plug. Seems like a better solution to me, though I've never actually tried one out.
Having to take your watch off in order to plug it in would be far more broken. This is a gadget, you buy it for fun. You can also get retractable key-chain sized usb cord you know... then you only need to remember your keys.
Also, if you already carry a digital camera, you already have a cord with you.
The watch is also good for long term storage of useful files (Free virus scanner installers, useful applications, pictures or videos you like to show off). You don't have to remember to take a USB drive with you. Combined with the keychain, it's hard to forget.
I had a data watch in the past, and I'm guessing that the advantage over the usb key, is being able to see the data (in my case phone contacts). The down side was with Win2K and higher, you couldn't just flash your upgrade to the monitor anymore - hence the USB cable/connection.
If the data is still visible on the watch's display, I say NOT broken
Mark0, I think you're thinking of the wrong type of watch, unless you are responding to other comments, not the original post. If the latter, just ignore this.
Pretty much everyone posting here has assumed you have to carry the cable round with you. A USB to mini-USB is a standard cable you can buy anywhere very cheaply. Get another one, and plug it into the other computer (e.g. if you use the watch to transfer files from work to home, keep one cable plugged into your home computer, and another plugged into your work computer).
For those who complain about that solution on the grounds that some people don't only use flash drives to transfer files between only two computers, they don't have to buy this watch, do they? They're not the ones who this product is aimed at. It's positioned at a particular market and it (probably, I haven't used one) fulfils it well. Not broken.
It is obvius solution to buy extra cable. Keep one @ home and one @ work. Then put one in pocket incase U want to use later on. Very simple. I like to have watch with flash mem like this and it can keep all my MP3. I have dozens. Then I listen all the TIME. (get it, time on watch, hah!) BTW is the watch have battery or is self winder?
ROFLMFAO b/c it has 128MB of storage. Buy an iPod. it tells time, you can synch it w/Outlook for your calendar/contacts, and stores a hell of a lot of data files. I keep installation files for MS Office 2003 on my iPod. And best of all it entertains me with all my music.
Not broken but should be obsolete.
Reminds me of the watch with the radio build in. You still had to carry earphones and have them dangling from your watch.
I think I also saw a video watch. The screen was in the watch but you still had to carry the receiver on your waist.
I agree that it is useless when you can carry 1 gig on your keychain with no cord.
I can't believe there are people here arguing that this product is intelligently designed because you can buy extra cables and/or carry a cable with you. *laugh* Look: it's a watch with data storage. The only possible reason(s) you'd need one are a) to reduce the number of items you have to remember to carry or b) to more stylishly carry your flash device.
In NEITHER event does having to carry a mini-USB cable with you -- retractable or otherwise -- make sense, since it completely obviates point A and minimizes point B (since, if you're carrying something as unstylish as a cable, you might as well carry something as unstylish as a keychain drive.) Buying extra cables and leaving them at the appropriate destinations solves this problem, but increases cost and cable clutter while reducing the number of conditions under which the watch is useful to the number of machines you've pre-equipped with cables.
(And if you're still carrying around a mini-USB cable for your digital camera, I have to ask: why? Buy a machine with an internal card reader, and pop the card out when you need to transfer files. It's faster and less annoying.)
Here's a thought.
Maybe, like me, you're a forgetful person. You keep forgetting your jump drive at home, and then you don't have your files at work. It's horrible.
So, you buy this watch, and two mini-USB cables. (The connector is a standard connector.) Then, you don't need to carry around a cable, and you can't forget your drive, because it's on your wrist at all times.
Problem solved, all thanks to "broken" technology.
they just want you to buy a mdore portabale wire. also if u use alot of gadgets like digital camaras you should keep a wire on you any ways. not broken
they just want you to buy a mdore portabale wire. also if u use alot of gadgets like digital camaras you should keep a wire on you any ways. not broken
If you use a digital camera you should buy this baby. No need to tote around an extra USB cable when the camera card converts to a USB drive.
Not broken. They skipped the need for debate b/n IIII or IV. Well played.
confused shoper you better find a better name. maybe "anonymous" or "dumbass" would be more suitable.
I've seen usb watches in which the cable becomes part of the band when not in use.. that would not be a bad design.. but still.. just get 1 of
these http://www.surpluscomputers.com/store/Main.aspx?p=ItemDetail&item=DRV10475
they come with a carrying sleeve about the size of a credit card you can use to store it in your Wallet or Purse.. also has a adapter with the standard usb connection that has a pocket clip on it but most times you don't need the adapter although it allows you to use the pocket clip and not lose it as much
Uh, I forgot to download my porno pictures into the watch to take to work. So having 2 cables doesnt' do any good.
"Maybe, like me, you're a forgetful person. You keep forgetting your jump drive at home, and then you don't have your files at work ... you can't forget your drive, because it's on your wrist at all times.
OK, you didn't forget your drive, you just forgot to load data onto it. Sorry, watch doesn't fix forgetfulness.
Look at it this way: You should always use an extension cable with your USB drive anyways. Simply bumping the USB drive without an extension can easily bend the USB connection, ruining your drive, and trapping your data. Now, your safety device is built in.
Also, to those people touting the benifits of Watches with the USB built in, did you also notice how ugly those are? This allows a relatively non-ugly watch with your storage gadget.
Things are not broken simply because you would prefer to buy a USB drive instead. Some people would rather not. Evidently, that means it's not marketed to you.
This whole "broken" arguement is like a bunch of guys arguing that tampons are broken, because they are only useful to women.
Reminds me of an very old Saturday Night Live commercial parody with Father Guido Sarducci (remember him?) selling his "Mr. Tea Maker" machines ...
"Its really easy to use! Just put a tea bag in your cup, place the cup in the machine, then pour a cup of hot water in the top of the machine, and turn it on. Wait a couple a minutes and Presto, you got yourself a hot cup of tea! And for only $29.99! Order yours now!"
Actually, I relate this parody at work whenever someone proposes a pointless feature or process. It gets my point across.
While this watch may not be as pointless as the tea maker or even broken, it's definitely obsolete. What's the point in introducing a new product that inferior to what's already standard in the market (keychain USB drives) and probably costs more?
I also wonder whether the drive is truly "microscopic," as is claimed on the website.
Microscopic: Too small to be seen with the unaided eye, but large enough to be studied under a microscope.
Well, I always have a sub notebook stuck in the back of my coat (in the middle of my back and the coat's fabric) and I wear watches on my left hand so i'd have that USB cable leading up my sleeve into the computer. Then whenever I come close to a wi-fi hotspot my watch automatically synchronizes with the nearest NTP server.
Follow-up product (see link)
It's a bit of an upgrade with the USB cord tucked into the watch strap. though you still have to take it off to up/download data.
I Just thought all of you should know that there is a watch similar to this with the cable built in with 512MB. Seems like for my husband who has lost two USB portable keys, that the watch might be a good solution. A coworker of mine has it and it's much to big for a woman's wrist. I'm hoping they come out with a smaller female version.
Cheers!
The website for the watch is broken. It says that no software is needed, then offers a link to download the software.
Comments on this entry are closed
Previous: Broken speed limit | Main | Next: Xbox message
1st to post!
Posted by: Joe at March 24, 2006 12:14 AM